A-Level English Literature Literary Criticism (Overview). Exam Questions
and Correct Answers | Graded A+ | 2025/2026 Update|
The Three-Fold Purpose of Criticism - •To help us solve a problem in the reading.
•To help us sift between and resolve conflict readings.
•To enable us to craft interpretive, yet scholarly judgements about literature.
Historical / Biographical Approach - Historical/Biographical critics see works as the
reflection of an author's life and times (or of the character's). The historical/biographical approach
deems it necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context
of their times in order to truly understand their works.
Advantages to the Historical / Biographical Approach - This approach works well for works
that are political in nature. It is also necessary to take a historical approach in order to place
allusions in their proper classical, political, or biblical background.
Disadvantages to the Historical / Biographical Approach - New Critics refer to historical /
biographical critic's belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by the author's
intention as 'the intentional fallacy'. Thus, art is reduced to the level of biography rather than
universal.
Moral / Philosophical Approach - Moral/Philosophical critics believe that the larger purpose
of literature is to teach morality and to probe philosophical issues. Practitioners include Matthew
Arnold (works must have "high seriousness"), Plato (literature must exhibit moralism and
utilitarianism), and Horace (literature should be "delightful and instructive").
Advantages to the Moral / Philosophical Approach - This approach is useful for works that
present an obvious moral philosophy. It is also useful when considering the themes of works.
Finally, it does not view literature merely as "art" isolated from all moral implications; it recognises
that literature can affect readers, whether subtly or directly, and that the message of a work (and
not just the decorous vehicle for that message) is important too.
, Disadvantages to the Moral / Philosophical Approach - Detractors argue that such an
approach can be too "judgemental". Some believe literature should be judged primarily (if not
solely) on it's artistic merits, not it's moral or philosophical content.
Formalism / New Criticism Approach - A formalistic approach to literature, once called
New Criticism, involves a close reading of the text. Formalistic critics believe that all information
essential to the interpretation of a work must be found within the work itself; there is no need to
bring in outside information about the history, politics or society of the time, or about the author's
life. Formalistic critics spend much time analysing irony, paradox, imagery and metaphors. They
are also interested in the work's setting, characters, symbols and point of view.
Terms Used in Formalism / New Criticism - •Tension - The integral unity of the poem which
results from the resolution of opposites, often in irony or paradox.
•Intentional Fallacy - The belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by the
author's intention.
•Affective Fallacy - The belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by it's effect
on the reader.
•External Form - Rhyme scheme, meter, stanza form etc.
•Objective Correlative - A collection of objects, situations, or events that instantly evoke a
particular emotion.
Advantages of the Formalism / New Criticism Approach - This approach can be performed
without much research, and it emphasises the value of literature apart from it's context (in effect
makes literature timeless). Virtually all critical approaches must begin here.
Disadvantages of the Formalism / New Criticism Approach - The text is seen in isolation.
Formalism ignores the context of the work. It cannot account for allusions. It tends to reduce
literature to little more than a collection of rhetorical devices.
Psychological Approach - Psychological critics view works through the lens of psychology.
They look either at the psychological motivations of the characters or of the authors themselves,
although the former is generally considered a more respectable approach.
and Correct Answers | Graded A+ | 2025/2026 Update|
The Three-Fold Purpose of Criticism - •To help us solve a problem in the reading.
•To help us sift between and resolve conflict readings.
•To enable us to craft interpretive, yet scholarly judgements about literature.
Historical / Biographical Approach - Historical/Biographical critics see works as the
reflection of an author's life and times (or of the character's). The historical/biographical approach
deems it necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context
of their times in order to truly understand their works.
Advantages to the Historical / Biographical Approach - This approach works well for works
that are political in nature. It is also necessary to take a historical approach in order to place
allusions in their proper classical, political, or biblical background.
Disadvantages to the Historical / Biographical Approach - New Critics refer to historical /
biographical critic's belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by the author's
intention as 'the intentional fallacy'. Thus, art is reduced to the level of biography rather than
universal.
Moral / Philosophical Approach - Moral/Philosophical critics believe that the larger purpose
of literature is to teach morality and to probe philosophical issues. Practitioners include Matthew
Arnold (works must have "high seriousness"), Plato (literature must exhibit moralism and
utilitarianism), and Horace (literature should be "delightful and instructive").
Advantages to the Moral / Philosophical Approach - This approach is useful for works that
present an obvious moral philosophy. It is also useful when considering the themes of works.
Finally, it does not view literature merely as "art" isolated from all moral implications; it recognises
that literature can affect readers, whether subtly or directly, and that the message of a work (and
not just the decorous vehicle for that message) is important too.
, Disadvantages to the Moral / Philosophical Approach - Detractors argue that such an
approach can be too "judgemental". Some believe literature should be judged primarily (if not
solely) on it's artistic merits, not it's moral or philosophical content.
Formalism / New Criticism Approach - A formalistic approach to literature, once called
New Criticism, involves a close reading of the text. Formalistic critics believe that all information
essential to the interpretation of a work must be found within the work itself; there is no need to
bring in outside information about the history, politics or society of the time, or about the author's
life. Formalistic critics spend much time analysing irony, paradox, imagery and metaphors. They
are also interested in the work's setting, characters, symbols and point of view.
Terms Used in Formalism / New Criticism - •Tension - The integral unity of the poem which
results from the resolution of opposites, often in irony or paradox.
•Intentional Fallacy - The belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by the
author's intention.
•Affective Fallacy - The belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by it's effect
on the reader.
•External Form - Rhyme scheme, meter, stanza form etc.
•Objective Correlative - A collection of objects, situations, or events that instantly evoke a
particular emotion.
Advantages of the Formalism / New Criticism Approach - This approach can be performed
without much research, and it emphasises the value of literature apart from it's context (in effect
makes literature timeless). Virtually all critical approaches must begin here.
Disadvantages of the Formalism / New Criticism Approach - The text is seen in isolation.
Formalism ignores the context of the work. It cannot account for allusions. It tends to reduce
literature to little more than a collection of rhetorical devices.
Psychological Approach - Psychological critics view works through the lens of psychology.
They look either at the psychological motivations of the characters or of the authors themselves,
although the former is generally considered a more respectable approach.
